NBA: Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers grab last two playoff spots in the East

By Associated Press

Apr 12, 2017 | 8:25 PM

The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers wrapped up the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference on the final night of the regular season Wednesday, leaving the Miami Heat on the outside looking in.

Jimmy Butler scored 25 points, and the Bulls routed the depleted Brooklyn Nets 112-73. Paul Zipser added a career-high 21 points off the bench as Chicago took advantage of a short-handed Brooklyn lineup to secure its first playoff appearance under coach Fred Hoiberg.

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Paul George finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds in the Pacers' 104-86 victory over Atlanta, their fifth victory in a row earning them the No. 7 seed in the East and a first-round matchup with Cleveland.

Goran Dragic scored 28 points, and Hassan Whiteside added 24 points and 18 rebounds as the Heat defeated the Washington Wizards, 110-102, but fell a game short of the playoffs after beginning the season with an 11-30 record.

at Utah 101, San Antonio 97: The Jazz won their ninth in a row at home, but they couldn't get home-court edge from the Clippers.

at Boston 112, Milwaukee 94: Gerald Green scored 18 points, 10 of them in a 25-2 fourth-quarter run, and the Celtics claimed the No. 1 seed in the East.

at Houston 123, Minnesota 118: James Harden had his 22nd triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, and the the MVP contender became the first player in NBA history to finish the regular season with at least 2,000 points (2,356), 900 assists (907) and 600 rebounds (659). Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 28 points and 21 rebounds for the Timberwolves, and became the youngest player to average 25 points and 10 rebounds in a season.

Denver 111, at Oklahoma City 105: Russell Westbrook got an MVP endorsement from Oscar Robertson before he played only the first half against the Nuggets. He finished with averages of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.

Toronto 98, at Cleveland 83: The Raptors won for the first time in four tries against the Cavaliers, who rested LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

New Orleans 103, at Portland 100: The Pelicans hung on with stars from both teams sitting.